Lighted alarm set indicator



W. C- WINGLER LIGHTED ALARM SET INDICATOR Feb. 2 1965 Filed March 6,1964 United States Patent (Mike 3,167,904 LIGHTED ALARM SET INDICATORWilliam C. Wingler, Northboro, Mass., assignor to General ElectricCompany, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 350,0123 Claims. (Cl. 58-227) This invention relates to alarm clocks and, moreparticularly, to an illuminating indicating mechanism for visuallyindicating whether the clock alarm mechanism has been set.

There are several prior art devices for causing a spot of light toappear on the dial of an alarm clock when the alarm mechanism has beenset. One method is to pass light from a lamp through a light conductingmember or lens which directs the light through a hole in an opaque maskbehind the dial. In order to selectively cause the light spot to appearon the dial a shutter is provided to move between the lens and the mask.However, for best results the mask and lens should be spaced apart onlyslightly adjacent the hole. Thus, the shutter must be thin, and yet moveback and forth between the mask and lens without canting or bending. Anysignificant canting could result in scratching or" the mask and detractfrom the appearance of the clock and the effectiveness of thelight-blocking arrangement. Any bending would make the mechanismdiihcult to operate. I have invented an improved and uniquelight-blockingarrangement which may be constructed from a minimum numberof inexpensive parts and which ensures that the shutter moves back andforth between the mask and the lens without canting or bending.

By my invention I provide an improved shutter mechanism which islong-lived, easily operated and remains properly aligned.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a reliable andlow cost indicating arrangement for visually indicating whether thealarm has been set.

Another object of my invention is to provide such an indicatingarrangement which is easily operated, stable in its alignment, and longlasting.

According to one aspect of my invention; an alarm clock having a dialwith a small portion adapted to permit the passage of light therethroughis provided with an improved alarm-set indicating arrangement. Bypositioning a light source behind the dial, a spot of light is visibleon the dial when the clock is in darkened surroundings. A shutter-lever,having an elongated body portion including an elongated passage, isinserted over one of the clock mounting studs with a close sliding fit.The body portion also includes a cam surface to be engaged by the clockalarm shut-off lever and an arm extending from the body opposite the camsurface. A shutter is mounted on the arm for movement between the smalldial portion and the light source to block the passage of light. Aspring is provided which biases the body portion of the shutterleveragainst one of the clock mounting plates so that the shutter is alwaysin proper alignment with the small dial portion and biases theshutter-lever to its light-passing position. In operation the alarmshut-cit lever engages the cam surface as the shut-off lever is moved tothe alarm-oif position to pivot the shutter-lever and move the shutterto a light-blocking position. When the shutoif lever is moved to thealarm-set position, it is disengaged from the cam surface and the springpivots the shutter-lever in the opposite direction to move the shutterto a light-passing position.

Further objects, features, and advantages will become apparent withreference to the following specification, taken in conjunction with theaccom anying drawings, in which:

For this purpose, the mask 3,167,934 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 FIG. 1 is afront elevational view, partly broken away, of an alarm clockincorporating the alarm-set indicating arrangement of my invention,showing the shutter and shutter-lever mechanism in its two positions;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the internal structure of thealarm clock of FIG. 1, showing the alarm-set indicating arrangement inthe alarm-set position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2, showing the alarm-setindicating arrangement in the alarm-off position;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of a portion of the internalstructure of the alarm clock of FIG. 1, showing the alarm-set indicatingarrangement in the alarm-set position; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the shutter and shutter-levermechanism of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, an alarm clock including the improvedalarm-set indicating arrangement of my invention is shown. The clockincludes a casing which encloses the other members of the clock. Mountedin the front of the casing is a translucent dial 11 backed by an opaquemask 12 and a lens 13, which is spaced back of the mask. The lens islighted by a source of illumination 14 positioned adjacent one edge ofthe lens. The source of illumination includes a lamp holder 15containing and supporting a lamp 115. The holder 15 directs the lightemitted by lamp .16 toward the lens 13.

The clock also includes a first mounting plate 17 and a second mountingplate 18, which support various operative elements of the clock. Theplates 17 and 18 are maintained in spaced relationship by a number ofstuds including that indicated at 19. Another stud 20 is mounted on andextends beyond plate 18 to support a shutter and shutter-levermechanism.

The clock is provided with a slidably mounted, manually operated alarmshut-eff lever 21, which is disposed in a horizontal position formovement toward and from the dial 11. The shut-off lever includes a camsurface 22 which is positioned to control the movement of an alarmvibrator 23, which may be of the resilient, magneticallyoperated type.When not restrained by the cam surface 22, the vibrator 23 vibrates toproduce an audible alarm. The alarm shut-off lever 21 includes a pair offorwardly extending arms 24 and 25, with arm 25 being bent out of theplane of the lever 21 so as to provide a surface 26 for pivoting theshutter and shutter-lever mechanism generally indicated at 27.

Suitable indicia may be located on the central or face portion of thetranslucent dial 11 so as to be readily seen by an observer. The borderportion of the dial, surrounding the clock face, is completely backed bythe mask 12 except for a small hole 23. The lens 13 is formed from anysuitable material such as glass or plastic normally employed for edgelighted applications, and is provided with suitable reflective surfaceswhich direct light forwardly from the source of illumination. With thisdial arrangement the entire dial face is easily observed during thedaytime; however, at night only a portion of the dial is illuminatedbecause of the shielding eifect of the opaque mask 12. This arrangementprovides a dial of sutlicient size for daytime use and nighttime usewhile keeping the lighted area to a minimum during the nighttime.

In accordance with my invention, an alarm-set indicating arrangement isprovided to visually indicate whether the clock alarm is in the of.position or the set position. 12 is formed with a small provided with anadditional reflective surface, such as beveled edge 29, which is alignedwith the hole 28 so that light traveling edgewise through the lens andstriking the beveled edge 29 will be reflected forwardly through thehole 28 and appear as hole 28 and the lens 13 is a light spot on thedial 11. This spot will be clearly visible when the clock is in adarkened surrounding.

In order to utilize this light spot as an indicating means, I providethe improved shutter and shutter-lever mechanism 27. The mechanismincludes a uniquely shaped shutter-lever 36 having an elongated, tubularbody portion 31. In order to mount the shutter-lever 3% in the clock,the body portion 31 includes an elongated passage 32 for insertion overthe stud with a close sliding lit. The close sliding fit of the studwithin the passage ensures that the axis of the body portion remainsperpendicular to mounting plate 17. For operation by alarm shut-offlever 21 the body portion is provided with a cam surface 33'which isdisposed for engagement by surface 25 of arm 25 as the shut-ofl lever 21is moved toward dial ii.

In order to selectively block the passage of light through hole 28, anarm 34 extends outwardly from body portion 31 oppositely of cam surface33 and is provided with an ear 35 which is generally parallel to theaxis of body portion 31. A thin shutter 36 is mounted on the ear 35. Theshutter is generally L-shaped, having a mounting portion 37for'connection to ear 3S and a light-blocking portion 38 which isgenerally parallel to arm 34.

In order to ensure that light-blocking portion 38 of shutter 36 isproperly aligned with respect to the mask 12 and lens 13 so as to movebetween the mask and the lens 'for blocking passage of the light throughhole 28, the body portion 31 of shutter-lever 3% is provided with a hole39 and one end of a spring 44 is received through the hole 39. The otherend of the spring 4t) is bent around mounting plate 18. Thus, whenassembled, the spring 4% is under tension and forces the shutter-lever40 forwardly so that one end 41 of the body portion 31 is maintained incontact with the back of mounting plate 17. Thus, the positioning of theshutter and shutterlever mechanism 27 is maintained constant withrespect to the space between the mask 12 and lens 13, and lightblockingportion 38 of shutter 36 will move between the mask 12 and lens13'without' coming into contact with either of them.

In operation, when alarm shut-off lever 21 is manually movedforward sothat cam surface 22 engages vibrator 23 to prevent vibration thereof,surface 2.6engages cam surface 33 and pivots shutter and shutter-levermechanism 27 about stud 24 to move light-blocking portion 38 of shutter36 between the mask 12 and lens 13 and cover hole 28 (as shown in brokenlines in FIG. 1). This blocks passage of light through hole 28 andprevents a spot of light from appearing on dial 11. This pivotingmovement of the shutter and shutter-lever mechanism also flexes'spring49. Thus, when the alarm shut-off lever 21 is manually moved away fromdial 11 so that cam surface 22 is disengaged from vibrator 23 to freethe vibrator for sounding an alarm, surface 245 is disengaged from camsurface 33 and spring 46 pivots the shutter and shutter-lever mechanism27 in the opposite direction'so that light-blocking portion 38 is movedaway from hole 28 in mask 12. Thus, light from lamp l6, reflected bybeveled edge 2?, will pass through hole 28 and cause a spot of light toappear on the dial surface. Therefore, the user can easily see in adarkened room that the alarm has been 'set.

It will be understood that several dif erent constructions of theshutter and shutter-lever mechanism are possible. The entire structurecould be made of metal; however, this would result in a relatively heavyand costly construction. Also, the entire structure could be made ofmolded plastic, including mounting the shutter on the shutter-lever bymolding the two as a single element. However, the light-blocking portionof the shutter should be thin to give the best results and a thinplastic element would be easily deformed or broken. I have found thatthe most satisfactory structure is a molded plastic shutterlever 39 anda thin metal shutter 36, mounted on the shutter-lever.

"3 While a particular embodiment of my invention has been illustratedand described, modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in theart. Accordingly, it should be understood that my invention is notlimited to the particular arrangement disclosed and that I intend in theappended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from thespirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 1. In an alarmclock, a translucent dial, an opaque mask positioned behind said dial, alens positioned behind said mask, said lens being aligned with said dialand said mask, a light source positioned adjacent one edge of said lensfor illuminating said dial, a light reflective surface formed in saidlens to reflect light toward said dial, said mask having a hole alignedwith said reflective surface such that light striking said reflectivesurface passes through said hole to cause a light spot to appear on saiddial when the clock is in a darkened surrounding, an alarm shut-offlever manually movable between an alarmoff and an alarm-set position, amounting plate positioned behind said mask, a stud projecting from saidplate opposite said mask, an elongated shutter-lever having an elongatedpassage therethrough for insertion over said stud with a close slidingt, said shutter-lever also having a cam surface arranged for engagementby said alarm shut-off lever, a shutter mounted on said shutter-leverfor movement between said mask and said lens to selectively blockpassage of light through said'hole, a spring engaging saidshutter-lever, said alarm shut-off lever pivoting said shutter-leverwhen said alarm shut-off lever is moved to the alarm-off position tomove said shutter between said mask and said lens to block passage oflight through said hole so that the light spot will not appear on saiddial, said spring pivoting said shutter-lever when said alarm shut-offlever is moved to the alarm-set position to uncover said hole to allowpassage of light through said hole so that the light spot will appear onsaid dial. 2. In an alarm clock, a translucent dial, an opaque maskpositioned behind said dial, a lens positioned behind said mask, saidlens being aligned with said dial and said mask, a light sourcepositioned adjacent one edge of said lens for illuminating said dial, alight reflective surface formed in said lens to reflect light towardsaid dial, said mask having a hole aligned with said reflective surfacesuch that light striking said reflective surface passes through saidhole to cause a light spot to appear on said dial when the clock is in adarkened surrounding, an alarm shut-ofl lever manually movable betweenan alarmoff and an alarm-set position, a mounting plate positionedbehind said mask, a stud projecting from said plate opposite said mask,an elongated shutter-lever having an elongated passage therethrough forinsertion over said stud with a close sliding fit, said shutter-leveralso having a cam surface arranged for engagement by said alarm shut-offlever, one end of said shutter-lever bearing against said plate toposition said shutter-lever with respect to said mask and said lens, aspring engagingsaid shutter-lever to retain said shutter-lever inengagement with said plate, a shutter mounted on said shutter-lever formovement between said mask and said lens to selectively block passage oflight through said hole, said alarm shut-offlever pivoting saidshutter-lever when said alarm shut-off lever is moved to the alarm-offposition to move said shutter between said mask and said lens to blockpassage of light through said hole so that the light spot will notappear on said dial, said spring pivoting said shutter-lever when saidalarm shut-off lever is moved to the alarm-set position to uncover saidhole to allow passage of light through said hole so that the light spotwill appear on said dial.

3. In an alarm clock, a translucent dial, an opaque mask positionedbehind said dial, a lens positioned behind said mask, said lens beingaligned with said dial and said mask, a light positioned adjacent oneedge of said lens for illuminating said dial, the edge of said lensopposite 33 the light source being beveled to reflect light toward saiddial, said mask having a hole aligned with said beveled edge such thatlight striking said beveled edge passes through said hole to cause alight spot to appear on said dial when the clock is in a darkenedsurrounding, an alarm shut-off lever manually movable between analarmoff and an alarm-set position, a mounting plate positioned behindsaid mask, a stud projecting from said plate opposite said mask, ashutter-lever including an elongated body portion, said body portionhaving an elongated passage therethrough for insertion over said studwith a close sliding lit, a cam surface formed in said body portion forengagement by said alarm shut-off lever, an arm extending from said bodyportion opposite said cam surface, a shutter mounted on said arm formovement between said mask and said lens to selectively block passage oflight through said hole, a spring engaging said body portion and forcingsaid body portion against said plate to align said shutter with thespace between said mask and said lens, said alarm shut-off leverpivoting said shutter-lever when said alarm shut-off lever is moved tothe alarm-off position to move said shutter between said mask and saidlens to block passage of light through said hole so that the light spotWill not appear on said dial, said spring pivoting said shutter-leverwhen said alarm shut-off lever is moved to the alarm-set position touncover said hole to allow passage of light through said hole so thatthe light spot will appear on said dial.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,063,884 Reinhardt Dec. 8, 1936 2,097,487 Kinnear Nov. 2, 19372,121,762 Marholz June 21, 1938

1. IN AN ALARM CLOCK, A TRANSLUCENT DIAL, AN OPAQUE MASK POSITIONEDBEHIND SAID DIAL, LENS POSITIONED BEHIND SAID MASK, SAID LENS BEINGALIGNED WITH SAID DIAL AND SAID MASK, A LIGHT SOURCE POSITIONED ADJACENTONE EDGE OF SAID LENS FOR ILLUMINATING SAID DIAL, A LIGHT REFLECTIVESURFACE FORMED IN SAID LENS TO REFLECT LIGHT TOWARD SAID DIAL, SAID MASKHAVING A HOLE ALIGNED WITH SAID REFLECTIVE SURFACE SUCH THAT LIGHTSTRIKING SAID REFLECTIVE SURFACE PASSES THROUGH SAID HOLE TO CAUSE ALIGHT SPOT TO APPEAR ON SAID DIAL WHEN THE CLOCK IS IN A DARKENEDSURROUNDING, AN ALARM SHUT-OFF LEVER MANUALLY MOVABLE BETWEEN ANALARMOFF AND AN ALARM-SET POSITION, A MOUNTING PALATE POSITIONED BEHINDSAID MASK, A STUD PROJECTING FROM SAID PLATE OPPOSITE SAID MASK, ANELONGATED SHUTTER-LEVER HAVING AN ELONGATED PASSAGE THERETHROUGH FORINSERTION OVER SAID STUD WITH A CLOSE SLIDING FIT, SAID SHUTTER-LEVERALSO HAVING A CAM SURFACE ARRANGED FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID ALARM SHUT-OFFLEVER, A SHUTTER MOUNTED ON SAID SHUTTER-LEVER FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAIDMASK AND SAID LENS TO SELECTIVELY BLOCK PASSAGE OF LIGHT THROUGH SAIDHOLE, A SPRING ENGAGING SAID SHUTTER-LEVER, SAID ALARM SHUT-OFF LEVERPIVOTING SID SHUTTER-LEVER WHEN SAID ALARM SHUT-OFF LEVER IS MOVED TOTHE ALARM-OFF POSITION TO MOVE SAID SHUTTER BETWEEN SAID MASK AND SAIDLENS TO BLOCK PASSAGE OF LIGHT THROUGH SAID HOLE SO THAT THE LIGHT SPOTWILL NOT APPEAR ON SAID DIAL, SAID SPRING PIVOTING SAID SHUTTER-LEVERWHEN SAID ALARM SHUT-OFF LEVER IS MOVED TO THE ALARM-SET POSITION TOUNCOVER SAID HOLE TO ALLOW PASSAGE OF LIGHT THROUGH SAID HOLE SO THATTHE LIGHT SPOT WILL APPEAR ON SAID DIAL.